Speed-control device for motor-vehicles



E J. E; JORDAN.

SPEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLlCATlQN FILED MAY 24, 1920.

1,400,608, I Patented Dec. 20,- 1921.

avwwdfoz 1PM? @MA E UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE.

. JOHN EUGENE JORDAN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SPEED-CONTROL DEVICE FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.,

Application filed May 24, 1920. Serial No. 383,984.

has for its principal object to provide a small, compact and efficient device ofthat character, comprising a control shaft that is driven revolubly by a flexible shaft connection with a vehicle wheel, and which carries pivotally mounted circuit closing members that are adjustably tensioned to normally retain a closed circuit through the vehicle ignition system, but which are adapted to be moved bycentrifugal force, when the shaft isrevolved, to open their circuits at certain predetermined speeds of the vehicle for which they may be individually set to operate, and will in this manner interrupt the driving operation of the engine until the speed of the vehicle has been retarded to, or below, the speed limit at which the device is set to operate.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby the speed at which the device is set to operate may be conspicuously displayed, and in connection with the device to provide switch mechanism whereby selection of the desired speed circuit may be quickly and easily made.

In 'accomplishin these and other objects of the invention have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward part of a motor vehicle, illustratingthe location and manner of mounting a speed control device thereon, and its driving connection with a vehicle wheel.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the speed controllin device, together with a diagrammatic i lustration of the light and ignition circuits connected thereto.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the device illustrating the centrifugally actuated circuit breaking and closing members.

"when the vehicle is travelin Referring more in detail to the several views of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts, 1 designates a motor vehicle of the usual type driven by an internalcombustion engine, wherein fuel charges are ignited through the medium of spark plugs or the like. 3 designates a front wheel of the vehicle which has a geared ring e fixed concentrically thereto that operates in mesh with a gear wheel 5 having a flexible shaft 6 connected thereto which ordinarily extends to and drives aspeedometer, as is illustrated at 7 on thedash board 8.

Supported from the dash below the speedometer, preferably by means of a bracket 9, is a speed controlling device embodying the present invention and which in Fig. 1, is designated by numeral 10.

The control device comprises a cylindrical housing 11, preferably of metal, closed at its lower end by a wall 12 and at its upper end by a cap 13 that is threaded thereon. Extending centrally through the housing is a vertical shaft 14, which is revolubly supported at its upper and lower ends respectively in anti-friction bearings, as indicated at 15, and has driving connection at its lower end with the shaft 6 and may have connection at its upper end with the speedometer driving mechanism.

Fixed on the shaft 14, within. the upper end of the housing, is a circular disk, or plate, 16, of fiber, hard rubber or other nonconductive material, and pivotally fixed thereon by means of posts 17and 18, mounted in the plate at opposite sides of the shaft, are arms 19 and 20. These arms are curved to extend along opposite sides of the shaft and on their inner sides are provided with by means of leaf springs 24 and 25, mounted by posts 2 and 2 on the plate 16.

In this'construction the springs 24 and 25 will have different holding strengths, and at a rate below certain predetermined spee s for which the arms are intended to operate, they will retain their respective arms in circuit closing contact with the collar 23, but when the speed of the vehicle is increased above a certain limit lawful for city or country driving,

' contact surfaces 21 and 22, which are northese springs will yield, under centrifugal pressure of the arms, to allow the latter to disengage the collar 23 and break the circuit therethrough, as is presently described.

Fixed on the shaft 14% below the plate 16, are three spaced-apart metallic collars, 25, 26 and 27, that are insulated from. the shaft 1% and are respectively engaged by the ends of conductive brushes 28, 29 and 30 mounted on a block of insulation 31 fixed to the wall of the housing. /Vires 32, 33 and 34-, respectively, connect the collars 25, 26 and 27 electrically with the posts 18 and 17 and the collar 23 so that an electric circuit can be completed through the shaft collars and arm 19 between the brushes 28 and 30, and another circuit through the arm 20 and brushes 29 and 30. 1

Mounted at the front of the vehicle is a housing 35where'in two lights 36 and 37 are located and which are used to designate the speed for which the control device is set to operate, for instance, the light 36 will be used to show that the device is set for city speed and light 37 for speed on country roads.

@n the dash of the vehicle, conveniently accessible to the driver of the vehicle, is a switch block 38, having two pairs of contact points 39-39 and 40-44) thereon. he points 39 and a0 are connected by a wire 41 with one pole-of a battery 42, while the points 39 and 40 are connected by wires 43 and 4A with poles of the lights 36 nd 37; the opposite poles of the lights being connected through a wire to with the other pole of the battery. A switch lever i6 is mounted on the block to be moved in opposite directions to effect electrical connection with the points 39-39 or 40-40, and inthis way close a circuit through one or the other light to indicate the speed for which the control device is set.

Leading from the brush 29 is a wire which may connect electrically through any suitable timing mechanism with one side of a spark plug ,51 while the other side is connected by a wire 52 with a terminal of the battery. Wires 53 end 54 respectively connect the brushes 28 and 30 with the switch points 39 and 40, so that, when the switch lever is adjusted to close a circuit through the points 393 9 it closes a circuit through the country speed light circuit and also through the ignition circuit, and when shiftinc eoe ed to the points l040, it will close the circuit through the city light circuit and also through the ignition circuit.

With the device so constructed and wired as described, it is apparent that by properly tensioning the springs 24 and 25 thedgnitioh circuits controlled by the arms 19 and 20' may be opened or closed at any desired speed i the vehicle.

In operation, it will be seen that rotation of the shaft 14 will revolve the plate 16 and at a certain speed the arm lllfwhich controls the city circuit, will by centrifugal force overcome pressure of the spring 2 and disengage itsell from the collar 23 and thereby break the ignition circuit, and temporarily stop driving by the engine. Likewise, if the device is set to operate through the country circuit, at a higher rate of speed the arm 20 disengages the shaft collar 23 to break the ignition circuit, to stop operation of the engine until the speed 01 the vehicle has slackened enough that the connection is reestablished.

W hat I claim as new anddesire to proby Letters Patent, is:

in a speed control device for motor vehicles, the combination with an ignition circuit including the sparking means in the vehicle engine, of a circuit closing device comprising a shaft adapted to be driven in accordance with the speed of the vehicle, a non-conductive plate fixed to the shaft, arms pivotally mounted on said plate, a contact collar fixed on the shaft, yieldable means of different strengths mounted on the plate engageable with the arms to normally retain the same in circuit closing contact with the contact collar, but yieldable under centrifugal pressure to permit the arms to disengage the collar at difierent speeds of the shaft, other collars fixed on the shaft and insulated therefrom, means electrically connecting one of said insulated collars with the contact collar, a brush for the latter insulated collar, having electrical connection with one terminal of said ignitioncircuit, brushes for the other insulated collars and switch controlled means individually connecting the latter collars with the other terminal of the ignition circuit.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 11th day of May, 1920.

J. EUGENE JORDAN. 

